Mandevilla plant named &#39;Sunpapri&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Sunpapri’, characterized by its vining plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; and medium-sized light to pale orange-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNPAPRI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunpapri’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new vining and freely branching Mandevilla plants with freely flowering habit and medium-sized attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in May, 2009 of a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number MR-7, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietary selection of Mandevilla hybrida identified as code number 04M11-2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since March, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunpapri’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunpapri’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Vining plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Long flowering period.     -   7. Medium-sized light to pale orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the Mandevilla amabilis×Mandevilla boliviensis ‘Sunmandeho’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,556. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Mandevilla differed from plants of ‘Sunmandeho’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla flowered earlier and for a         longer period of time than plants of ‘Sunmandeho’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Sunmandeho’.     -   3 Flower petals of plants of the new Mandevilla were roughly         ovate in shape whereas flower petals of plants of ‘Sunmandeho’         were orbicular in shape.     -   4. Plants of the new Mandevilla and ‘Sunmandeho’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Sunmandeho’ had yellowish         white-colored flowers with white-colored throats.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant. The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunpapri’ grown in a container. The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunpapri’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Mandevilla production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and detailed description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla hybrida ‘Sunpapri’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number MR-7, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla             hybrida identified as code number 04M11-2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at temperatures             about 23° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About five to six             weeks at temperatures about 23° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; typically light brown in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Vining plant habit; vigorous growth             habit; freely branching habit.         -   Plant height.—About 115 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 85 cm. Diameter:             About 2.7 mm. Internode length: About 4.8 cm. Strength:             Strong, flexible. Texture: Pubescent, rough. Color,             developing: Close to N144C; slightly tinged with close to             N170B. Color, fully developed: Close to 177D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Somewhat glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between             144A and 146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             146D. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B;             venation, close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 145B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers arranged in             axillary racemes; flowers face mostly outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about eleven flowers per inflorescence             and about ten inflorescences per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants             begin flowering about six weeks after planting; long             flowering period, plants flower continuously from mid-May             until late November in Japan.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven to ten days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant, pleasant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 14.3 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 16.8 cm.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Salverform; flared trumpet, corolla             fused and five-parted; flowers roughly star-shaped.             Diameter: About 9.4 cm. Depth (length): About 6.7 cm. Tube             length: About 4.1 cm. Tube diameter, distally: About 1.4 cm.             Tube diameter, mid-section: About 5 mm. Tube diameter,             proximally: About 2.7 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 6.7 cm. Diameter: About 9.8 mm.             Shape: Lenticular. Color: Distally, close to 38D;             mid-section, close to 13D; proximally, close to 145B.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl and fused towards the base into an elongated             tube; petal lobes imbricate. Petal lobe length: About             4.3 cm. Petal lobe width: About 3.7 cm. Petal lobe shape:             Roughly ovate, asymmetrical. Petal lobe apex: Acute. Petal             lobe margin: Entire; slightly undulate and recurved. Petal             lobe texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety.             Petal lobe texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube             texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal lobe, when opening,             upper surface: Close to 27A; towards the apex, close to 39C;             towards the base, close to 19A. Petal lobe, when opening,             lower surface: Towards the apex, close to 23D; towards the             base, close to 158A. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 27C; towards the apex, close to 49B;             towards the base, close to 16B. Petal lobe, fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 155D. Throat: Distally, close to             N25B to N25C with venation, close to 19C; proximally, close             to 14B to 14C to 14D with venation, close to 12B. Tube:             Distally, close to 4D; mid-section, close to 4C; proximally,             close to 150B.         -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl, fused at the base; calyx, star-shaped. Sepal             length: About 6.4 mm. Sepal width: About 3.8 mm. Sepal             shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire.             Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Sepal color, upper and lower surfaces: Distally, close to             37A; proximally, close to 144D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.9 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Upright to outwardly.             Color: Close to 145B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Aspect: Upright to outwardly. Color: Close             to 145A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; filaments fused to corolla; anthers,             connivent. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1             mm by 7 mm. Anther color: Close to 11C. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity:             Typically one. Pistil length: About 1.2 cm. Style color:             Close to 145D. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to             145C. Ovary color: Close to 145C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been observed     to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to     about 30° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Sunpapri’ as illustrated and described. 